Staff Information & Teaching Guide - Swinburne University of ...

having a few people dominate class discussions. Asking each group to give a brief
‘report’ to the class tends to encourage the group to stick to the task at hand rather than
becoming involved in non-class discussions.
During group work, I usually move from group to group and sit in for a few minutes. This
also helps to keep the group on task. I addition, it gives people who might be reluctant to
ask me questions in the full class a chance to ask questions in the smaller group setting.
I also use moving around the groups as an opportunity to get to know or reinforce
students’ names.
Try different things. Also communicate with the group (especially if a small tutorial or lab
class), and see what their expectations are. Be prepared to change whatever is not
working.
International students - language & cultural issues, groups dynamics
Some international students feel reluctant to become involved in full class discussions.
Group work can provide an opportunity for these students to become actively involved or
to ask questions. Sometimes cultural differences are relevant to issues being discussed
in class. I have found international students are usually happy to talk about their
particular cultural perspective when invited to, and this can lead to interesting class
discussions. If students are particularly quiet, I often try to talk to them individually to see
how they are going and to let them know that I am happy to answer any questions. I am
happy to make appointments for additional consultation as needed. I think staff being
approachable is important for all students, but particularly for international students.
Talk about your expectations of the class early on in the class time/semester, and
encourage some discussion on aligning the class objectives and your own if possible.
Inform the international students that Uni in Australia is different from other places.
Students will be expected to contribute, to have an opinion, and to be able to set up a
logical argument in almost all their classes. Encourage them to interact and speak to
teaching staff and others to ensure the learning process has the best chance.
Assessment Strategies & Criteria
For most students, assessment requirements are the single most important facot in their
understanding of a unit. It is therefore an important tool in directing their attention and
improving their leanring. Clear assessment criteria, and tasks that explicitly address thee
unit objectives will provide students with a strong framework from which to learn.
Programs use a range of assessment approaches. Unit Convenors should provide you
with guidance on assessment criteria for their unit, including criteria for grading and
feedback.
A useful resource for understanding the importance of assessment is provided by the
Centre for the Study of Higher Education, based at Melbourne University:
http://www.cshe.unimelb.edu.au.
An essay addressing issues related to assessment criteria is included in Appendix 6.
This essay may help stimulate your thoughts and discussions about assessment.
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